An Old Guy on a 30 yr old Goldwing with a 20+ yr old Mini Mate - Into a Hurricane - Day 4 '24 Ep 23

[@bigjim383]

I usually ride alone but I find as long as I have a decent breakfast I can go most of the day without eating. But as far as a pee break I usually go along side the highway as I am normally on secondary highways without a lot of traffic.Still enjoying your videos keep up the good work and stay safe.

[@OldGuyonaBike]

I usually have a light lunch and when I am camping a lot I often pack something to have as a picnic break. I did more travel than camping last summer. Changing camera batteries helps me take breaks and get off the bike. I have peed at the side of many a desolate (and not-so-desolite) road.

[@richardmourdock2719]

Timmy Ho's should definitely sponsor you. Every time you stop at one, I wish I lived near one. Closest is in Indianapolis, three hours from me. But I cannot watch you pull into a Timmy's without remembering the great pastries and delicious coffee on my Canadian journeys.

[@OldGuyonaBike]

Maybe not the best coffee in the world but it is very consistant. I find Dunkin' Doughnuts to be a crap shot depending on the franchise. You can nevere go wrong with an apple fritter either.

[@k5abuser]

Federal formoza fd2 all season 175/60 16 car tire. Cost $49. Last about 15,000+ miles on a bike pulling a trailer. I run darkside on my goldwings and it rides better with better handling and with a trailer much safer. Once your going you can not feel it's a car tire. Good to see your new videos again. I still have the rocket powered trailer you saw me with in 2018 when I passed you ar Grosse morn park.

[@OldGuyonaBike]

I do remember you passing me well. I bought the Mini Mate about a month later. I think I will look at going darkside while doing winter maintenance.

[@assessor1276]

I had an ST1300 and while I never darksided it, I met lots who did and they swore it wasn’t noticeable. MUCH better tirewear ($$$ much lower) and as long as you choose carefully, no rubbing on the swing arm.

[@OldGuyonaBike]

@@assessor1276 I am not aggresive in my riding these days with the trailer so I think going darkside will be a good thing. Will need a new rear tire going into next season anyway.

[@Motoramblings]

Between the windshield, the face shield, and my glasses, the rain makes seeing an exercise in futility!!

[@OldGuyonaBike]

The Goldwing has pretty good protection but when it is pouring, yes it can be very hard to safely ride. I rode in worse on the prairies but that is for a later video.

[@Motoramblings]

@ that should be interesting!

[@tomfillmore9710]

That was a wet ride buddy but you made it to your friends place that's good and that was a good call not to go down his driveway it looked like it was not bike friendly especially with you're set up good call . take care have a great weekend

[@OldGuyonaBike]

I know when to be brave and I know when to just throw stuff in the car for the ride down. He even found it a little slippery that last grass hill to the house.

[@goldwingmoments]

Hi Jim, your ride through that rain brings back so many memories for me. Every trip I take out east, I usually have two days in poor weather. Guess it's all part of out adventures. It must have been nice to visit your friends house and dry out. As you traveled along I was keeping a close eye on the places you stopped for gas and coffee. I bet I have visited about 90% of those locations several times over the years. Before I leave on a trip I put Rain-x on my windshield and helmet visor. Canadian Tire has the product for use on plastic and it works great. Sure helps with visibility. As usual, I enjoyed your video and look forward to your next production. Hope you enjoy the winter months ahead that will give you lots of time to sit and edit. Cheers!

[@gotthumbs2235]

Myself, I use Rain-X on all my cars religiously. Very rarely do I end up even needing to use the wipers. Have you had any issues using the Rain-x on non-glass screens? I have worried about it causing a chemical reaction of some type on the plastics. Because of this concern, I use Griots Ceramic Speed Shine to clean my ST's screen. It also helps shed the water when riding in the rain.

[@goldwingmoments]

@@gotthumbs2235 , thanks for that information. I have never had an issue but I only use the Rain-X that is only for plastic use.

[@OldGuyonaBike]

I do have a bottle of RainX for plastic in my main kit. Don't know why I forgot to use it before I left and why I did not take it with me. Little things one forgets before heading ouot. I need better "lists".

[@OldGuyonaBike]

I have used the RainX for plastic before and it does work fine. Forgot to do so for this trip.

[@3RDOOR]

@@OldGuyonaBike lists to listen to 😏✌🏻

[@dragonslayer1294]

Thanks, for sharing the road looks a little Squirrley think you made the right choice. Stay safe out there. God bless.

[@OldGuyonaBike]

The older I get, the more prudent I get. Maybe just a little.

[@curtiscollins2174]

Another awesome video. Well done sir..

[@OldGuyonaBike]

Thanks for coming along.

[@MRMRS2wheeler]

Great video James. We rode thru a tropical storm a few years back on our way to Ontario. Heavy downpours, and high wing gusts, not fun but the ST handled it like a champ. Stay safe and happy Thanksgiving

[@OldGuyonaBike]

The ST had great protection especially with the extra wind deflectors. The Goldwing has even more protection. Both are are grat all weather bikes. Except snow. Except snow. Happy Thanksgiving to you.

[@Supermankev2001]

What a trip. Ride safe my friend any motorcycle trip is epic but this is super epic. I love riding on a long road trip nice to see the old bike is still thumping along.Sometimes staying in a Motel is the best choice . I have to admit I am a wimp. I do like having a warm place to sleep and a comfy bed. I usually go around 160 Km between stops just because my butt can only go that long before I start getting ready to walk grab a snack and really enjoy the ride. Stay safe thanks for taking us along.

[@OldGuyonaBike]

Glad to have you along Kevin. I will be editing all winter lol. It was a great trip. Came with some misadventures but all in all it was great.

[@toslow9045]

That old wing looks like it's in great shape

[@OldGuyonaBike]

I have been very pleased with her. She got more kilometres on this summer than she got in the previous ten I think.

[@toslow9045]

@@OldGuyonaBike Whats the roads like back home? NS are they fixed up or rough?

[@OldGuyonaBike]

@@toslow9045 It's the same all over the continent. Everywhere they are working on some roads. Some road are great. HIt freeways that were chewed up and secondary mountain roads that were just a pleasure. Most main roads I hit in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland are at least good. No main routes were really bad.

[@3RDOOR]

@@OldGuyonaBike thnx

[@Motoramblings]

Rain jacket on: no rain Rain jacket off: rain It’s just a thing!😂😂

[@OldGuyonaBike]

Yes and the better the rainsuit just means the more you sweat. I have never had a rainsuit that did not pool in the crotch area and at some point found a seam to get through. At least it wakes you up.

[@Motoramblings]

@ That’s so true!!!

[@bamadad53]

@@OldGuyonaBikethat’s hilarious Jim and so spot on. The first time my old rain suit leaked…in the crotch…I was like “whoa what’s going on here” 😂

[@OldGuyonaBike]

@@bamadad53 It can be quite the surprise sometimes.

[@gordonhenderson1708]

​@OldGuyonaBike The BMW ProRain Suit Neon I use works well. No wet crotch. I used a waxed cotton Belstaf Trialmaster jacket, pants, and over mitts, for years. Still have them. The BMW one piece suit is good, in my experience.

[@southernrebel]

Oh Jim!! Great video!! You have so much perseverance!!! You inspire me! Just had to mix a good strong one and sip while watching your video!! Got any drinking left? haha Wish you was back here. We didn't have time for a real good ride around this area!! Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas God Bless safe ridin rubber down

[@OldGuyonaBike]

I will have to get back down. Maybe 2026. Have just a wee bit left for New Year's. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you two.

[@bsc1463]

You rode through the area where I grew up . The Timmies you stopped at just off the T.C.H. after passing through New Glasgow / Stellarton ..... there is an old drive-inn theater just down the road from there that we use to hide in the trunk of our car to sneak in lol . We , like everyone else drank a few beers there when we were teenagers . Memories eh !

[@OldGuyonaBike]

It's not an area I have spent much time in but I did have a few wild days in New Glasgow in my youth.

[@randymedeiros2187]

I loved coming along on this trip Jim although very wet. Don't you need a new pair of gloves yet lol.

[@OldGuyonaBike]

They seemed to dry out pretty good. I do have a couple of sets though. I am glad I did not get any really cold and wet days. Cold and damp, but not soaking wet.

[@brianfromnh2596]

Self cancelling turn signals not working? Depending on the windscreen you could use rainx or similar to whisk away the rain

[@OldGuyonaBike]

No they weren't. Turn signals will be a recurring issue over the trip. Intermittant problems that I hope to track down this winter. Forgot my RainX in the cleaning bucket in my storage.

[@3RDOOR]

Got your socks on 😂😂

[@OldGuyonaBike]

Lost me? Socks? Boots on too.

[@3RDOOR]

@ ha ha plastic bags over the socks. In yer boots of course. ✌🏻❤️🇺🇸💯😎

[@OldGuyonaBike]

@@3RDOOR used to do that in the winter as a kid. My boots are quite waterproof.... well, were, I wore them finally out this trip. The mesh jacket doesn't repel any rain at all.

[@josephalberta1145]

With no trailer I can do 300 km at around 100 kph on my 1500. I tested that with a gerry can back up on my last trip to Quebec from Alberta. I would not try it without the gerry can.

[@OldGuyonaBike]

With the trailer I got to about 230 km. without the low gas light coming on. I am happy without testing it further although I did have a gas issue in Oregon. One thing to remember is that the fuel pump is deep in the gas tank. If you get down to fumes you can overheat it. I damaged my fuel pump on the ST1300 one summer and it failed by the next year.

[@mikewatson4644]

Those directions sound like the ones that I like to give. I tell people "Take a left where the railroad tracks used to be". One time, the fellow replied "I always wondered why there was a bump there" Have you ridden a bike most of your life or is it something that you came to later in life? Thanks for bringing us along

[@OldGuyonaBike]

I have been riding since 1972. I did have 2 years during that time when there was a bike in the shed but not on the road. Young family days where insurance and/or parts couldn't be afforded. I started on a Honda 50cc scooter, went to a SL350, BMW R75/5, CB750K, ST1300 and now a 1994 GL1500. I think I have a few more years left in me.

[@davescrazy-trailer6542]

I see you carry a SPOT with you. I bought one after seeing LoneStarRider crashing in Death Valley and it saved his bacon

[@OldGuyonaBike]

Having something like the Spot Tracker and it's emergancy features makes good sense for anyone riding solo. I primarily use it to see exactly where I was when I check months later. Somedays I do not know where I have been lol. Always better when you get in the habit of turning it on every morning.

[@billwilliams9527]

That Wing serves you much better than the ST.

[@OldGuyonaBike]

At this stage, hauling the traileer, it is definately a better choice.

[@Lastcallrepent]

Two vehicals during this vidio paid no attention that you were there pull in front of you .😮 But i enjoyed your ride !

[@OldGuyonaBike]

I am so used to watching and reacting to such vehicles that I think I automatically take them into account while riding. We always need to be aware.

[@jamesdwyer6701]

Plastic formula rain x works good on front sheild

[@OldGuyonaBike]

I forgot to pack it. And then I dry days I forgot to buy some.

[@gotthumbs2235]

I know you were set for a very long trip but I worry the trailer was quite tongue heavy and affecting your riding stability. You're "home' now, so it clearly wasn't too much of an issue overall but I'd still be interested in seeing the 'Tongue Hitch Weight Measurement' on next years 'getting ready to head out' video. Stay warm and thanks for the video.

[@OldGuyonaBike]

I don't think I caught on video but I measured the tongue several times over the ride. 60 lb. +/- 2 lb. I don't think that it made the front end light... but that might be up to debate. The incidences I had on the road were circustances with a little driver error? Always felt firmly planted.

[@jimcaulk6225]

@@OldGuyonaBike I think you said once the trailer was about 500 lbs (227kg) loaded. So 60 lbs is a little light, everybody says 10-20% of gross on the tongue. So I would go with that too... (everybody's an expert...)(sigh...)

[@OldGuyonaBike]

@@jimcaulk6225 I really do need to get the trailer weighed with a full load and full cooler. At my estimate of 450 lb, 60 lb. tongue weight would be 13% and if I actually weighed 500 lb. it would be 12%. Both acceptable numbers. Aerodynamics might also be a factor. The trailer is the same width as the bike so it is not catching direct frontal wind. The triangular storage box on the tongue may help break the wind too and I think that box at the back on top is acting a little like a wing. All in all, I've hauled it for over 60,000 km. in this configuration and have found it rock solid behind me. If I hadn't, I would have changed things up a little. I did have one setup a few years back with a longer tongue and had 75 lb. tongue weight. Only for one weekend. I know there are people pulling at up to 90 lb. I don't trust a motorcycle hitch for that. There are certainly some good ballpark guidelines out there but I think each trailer, weight, width, and wheel base will test those guidelines. Everyone should experiment a little and find what seems best for them.

[@gosolobox]

Any bike that forces you to look through a windscreen needs a wiper. That was my only real gripe with both of my 1500's. Southbound on I5 into Seattle at night, pulling my Minimate trailer, with a passenger...And I can't see a thing because of the rain.

[@OldGuyonaBike]

I will admit that there is nothing worse than highway riding at night in the pouring rain. I do like being able to see over the windshield and am tempted to take an inch off it.

[@gosolobox]

@@OldGuyonaBike Ride safe..

[@Lastcallrepent]

Rainex with a new sheild helps alot .

[@richardahola692]

My 1200 had a tall windshield. Nice in the rain but a pain to see. I cut it down by 6"

[@stroln]

Never blindly follow you GPS. It is call GPS for a reason. Guessing Positioning System. Get a picture of you route in your mind. Stop and look at your map. Another thing I have leaned is that locals can not give you directions or very good directions.

[@OldGuyonaBike]

I do not trust my GPS. I often do routes up in MyRoute. I have now got the habit of deleting the starting waypoint as you never seem to be right on the mark and the GPS wants to bring you back. Same happens if you decide change your route a little and it wants to take you back to a place you missed. Got caught later in the trip by a very scenic route when I wanted to go fastes/shortest. Technology is always fun.

[@gordonhenderson1708]

​​@@OldGuyonaBike I plan my route in a Rand McNally map book and have it showing in the map pouch on my tank bag. My Zumo XT is a reference tool/back up. The audio alerts through the SENA are, admittedly, priceless.

[@OldGuyonaBike]

@@gordonhenderson1708 I have to find some sort of tank bag for the Goldwing. The tank is false and all plastic. I do have a couple of Atlasses with me that I usually reference at night. I do rely on Google maps for the broad strokes. I just have to be more careful with waypoints when I am setting up routes in MyRoute.

[@Petemecher]

Good day Sir how many miles are on your bike ? And you have taken great care of both bike and trailer. I hate riding in the rain. But sometimes you just have too. . Be safe and enjoy the adventure.

[@OldGuyonaBike]

The previous owner took good care of the Goldwing. I picked it up in April with just under 140,000 km/87,000 miles on her and put 25,000 km/15,500 miles on her this year. A bit used and abused but that will come up in future videos. She's a great old bike and the trailer has served me well.

[@assessor1276]

QUESTION: Jim, how do you find the GL for power compared to the ST? COMMENT: that was a pretty crummy looking day but it was nice to see you get together with your buddy! Pete

[@OldGuyonaBike]

lol... it was only the last hour that was really crummy. The Goldwing is sooo smooth and it has lots of power. The gear ratio seems better suited to hauling a trailer for sure. Never ever felt like a stain going from stopped to getting up to highway speed. The ST was perfect for me for the years I had it but this seems to be exactly the right bike for me these days. Hope you have been doing well.

[@Lastcallrepent]

Rainex next time .❤

[@OldGuyonaBike]

Have it. Forgot to use it on the new windshield and forgot to pack it.

[@vanislandsteve]

👍🏻🇨🇦

[@davidcook7345]

You have probably figured out by now that e on the gauge is your reserve, at just below e the low fuel light comes on at that point manual says you have a gallon left, (at least the 98 se does) please keep coffee site up till new year, after Christmas i will be able to buy more coffee. We the fans want a great 2025 ride and want to help

[@OldGuyonaBike]

My gauge does not drop in a steady progression and I don't fully trust it. Luckily I need to change camera batteries every hour and a half or so. Good time to gas up. Have not had the low fuel light come on yet. I'm starting to plan for 2025 and it may be more camping than riding. Starting to look at a very intense tour of Newfoundland and all it's provincial and national parks along with some municipal ones. spend some time in the small towns.

[@tomtucker2450]

Wax that windshield and your face shield

[@tomtucker2450]

Plastic rain x please

[@OldGuyonaBike]

Left it on the shelf in the shop. I won't leave home without it again.